Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-15

much affected As the time for the execu-
ton drew near the other prisoners in the
jail, about 800 in number, and mostly ne
groes, chantel their peculiar hymns with
almost weird effect At 1l:30 the prisoner
and his counsel, Mr. Ben Crump, had pri-
vate interview, the purport of which is not
known, and at p. M Cluyerius was led
from his cell.
The gallows was erected in the jail yard,
and the open space around it was packed
with those who held tickets to the execution,
while outside some $1,000 people surged in
vain attempt to get glimpse or an inkling
of what was going on inside, and gave vent
TO their feelings by an occasional yell or
whoop. The prisoner was dressed in a neat
suit of black, with waterproof cloak, but
toned behind, thrown over all As he de-
scended the steps to the jail yard the people
on the house tops yelled. The scaffold was
soon reached. Cluyerius was cool and col
lected he did not culver or show the slight
est nervous embarrassment He stepped
quickly and naturally up the long flight of
steps and stopped Immediately in the center
of the trap door His face had on it beard
of several days growth, and his countenance
seemed fixed as by force of great will power.
Sergt Smith advanced to the front of the
scaffold, and, in loud and distinct VOICE,
read the death warrant. Turning to the
prisoner, after finishing the reading, he
asked: Have you nything to say" To this
Cluverius replied in voice inauiible ten
feet away: Not a word, sir
Rev Dr. Hatcher then said, "Let US all
pray and kneeling upon ths rough pine
boards of the scaffold offered a fervent ap-
peal to the throne Of mercy. During this
prayer the prisoner remained standing. No
trace of excitement was visible, except
that his eyelids qaiyered every sec
ond His hat had been removed, and his
brown hair glistened in the sunlight When
the prayer was ended the condemned man
asked Dr. Hatcher TO come near him, and
when the octor did 50, few words in a low
voice were said TO him. Turning to the
crowd below, DIR. Hatcher said: Il am re-
quested by the prisoner to say just one word
that he carries no illfeeling to-day against
any one on earth DIR. Hatcher then turned
and babe the prisoner farewell.
Deputy Sergeant Allen tied his legs together
and put the black cap over his head and ad-
justed it and the moose, which latter was
made of silk At los O'Clock the trap was
sprung and the body of Cluverius shot down
ward quickly. Then a scene was wit
messed The silk rope did poor service,
and it was seen that the moose had
slipped and the rope stretched fearfully. The
feet of Cluverius were just touching the
ground, and only turn and half of the
moose was left. Horror was on the faces of
the spectators present, and il a minute the
police were ordering every one to leave the
premises. DIR. Oppenheimer examined the
body, and at 6rst said the pulse was beating
regularly; that there were gurteral sounds
for six minutes, gasps for breath, and indica-
tons of straugulation. The victim, however,
did not writhe. His head hung on one side,
and around the neck was rel, livid mark,
made by the fall of eight feet. The color of
the countenance commslce1 to change, and in
sixteen minutes after the fall of the drop
Drs Harrison, 8eale, and Cabell pronounced
life extinct DR., Oppenheimer said that the
neck had been broken by the fall The body
was turned over to an undertaken. and will
be sent to King and Qlesn county for inter
ment
CIuverius was hanged for the murder of
his cousin Fannie Lillian Madison Her
dead body was found floating in the old city
reservoir here March 4, 1885. A reporter